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txWt 

a» IB. 1922 

Commemorattbe 

of t\)t Mxtf) of 

(Btox^t ^as|)tngton 

Cf)urcJ) of ti)t €pipijanp 

# Street, near Jfourteentf) 

^untiai? afternoon, ifel^mart lo, 1922 

at 4 o'clock 



C>ffictating Clergy 



This service was conducted by 

The Reverend Canon William Tayloe Snyder, 
Chaplain of the Sons of the Revolution, 

Assisted by 

The Very Reverend G. C. F. Bratenahl, D.D., 
Dean of the Washington Cathedral, 

The Reverend Thomas Edward Green, S.T.D., 
Of the Sons of the Revolution, 



and 



The Reverend James E. Freeman, D.D., 

Rector of the Church of the Epiphany. 



The Sermon was preached by 

The Reverend Ernest M. Stires, D.D., LL.D., D.C.L., 
Rector of St. Thomas's Church, Neiv York City. 



The Order of Service was prepared by the late, The 
Reverend Randolph H. McKim, D.D., LL.D., D.C.L., 
somewhile Chaplain, Sons of the Revolution, D. C, and 
set forth for this purpose with the approval of the Right 
Reverend, the Bishop of Washington. 



SERMON 

Preached before the 

Society of the Sons of the Revolution 

in the District of Columbia 
in its 

Church Service 

held in commemoration of the 

Birth of George Washington 

in 

Epiphany Church, Washington, D. C. 

on 

February 19, 1922 

by 

The Rev. Ernest Milmore Stires, D.D., LL.D., D.C.L. 

Rector of 
St. Thomas's Church, NewjYork: City 

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY 

WASHINGTON 

1922 



.63 



The present sermon by the Rev. Dr. Stires is printed 
through his courtesy for distribution among the mem- 
bers of the Society and their friends. 

Marcus Benjamin, 

The Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the 
District of Columbia has held seven Church services 
as follows: 

November 21, 1915, Church of the Epiphany, 
Rt. Rev. Lucien Lee Kinsolving, D.D., LL.D., 
Bishop of Southern Brazil. 

February 18, 191 7, St. John's Episcopal Church, 
Rev. Romilly F. Humphreys, D.D., 
Baltimore, Maryland. 

February 17, 191 8, Church of the Epiphany, 
Rev. Roland Cotton Smith, D.D., 
Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church. 

February 16, 1919, St. John's Episcopal Church, 
Rt. Rev. Nathaniel C. Thomas, D.D., 
Bishop of Wyoming. 

February 22, 1920, Church of the Epiphany, 
Rev. Z. B. T. Phillips, D.D., 
Rector of St. Peter's Church, 
St. Louis, Missouri. 

February 20, 1921, St. John's Episcopal Church, 
Rt. Rev. William A. Leonard, D.D„ LL.D., 
Bishop of Ohio. 

February 19, 1922, Church of the Epiphany, 
Rev. Ernest M. Stires, D.D., LL.D., D.C.L., 

Rector of St. Thomas's Church, New York City. 






'Add to Your Faith, Courage." — II Petbb, 1:5. 




T 



HE fires of patriot- 
ism burn brighter to- 
day on tens of thou- 
sands of altars. In great 
churches and small, in 
vast cathedrals whose 
vaulted aisles echo with 
the voices of the past, and 
in log chapels almost as 
humble as the place in which the world's 
Saviour was born, the American people 
have assembled in the house of prayer to 
thank God for the faith and courage of 
one who was born not many miles from 
here one hundred and ninety years ago. 

There are living Americans who in their 
youth talked with men who knew Wash- 
ington. Our country is young, our history 
glorious ; there should be no danger of our 
forgetting the high purposes to which our 
fathers dedicated this nation. But, lest we 
forget, patriotic societies, chief among 
them the Sons of the Kevolution, have 
organized as guardians of the sacred fire. 
It is a noble task, and right nobly may 
it be fulfilled. 

Our text comes with unique force from 
the lips of St. Peter. The words are usu- 
ally quoted, "Add to your faith, virtue ;" 
but a little study clearly reveals that the 



apostle was describing that heroic quality 
which we call courage. He was appealing 
for a faith so definite and complete, so 
flaming with loyalty that courage eman- 
ated from it as inevitably as light shines 
from the sun. He knew what tragedies of 
failure, what bitterness of remorse are the 
fruitage of moral cowardice. 

We might do well to deal with the neces- 
sity of personal loyalty to God as the only 
abiding inspiration of worthy conduct, 
the only security of the home, the family, 
of social and industrial relations, — that 
higher loyalty on which all other loyalties 
ultimately depend. But at the moment we 
are confronted with national questions so 
deeply involving national and personal 
honor that I am impelled by my concep- 
tion of my own patriotic duty to place 
them before you with all humility yet with 
profound conviction of their urgent char- 
acter. 

Let it be our duty therefore in this ser- 
vice of faith and consecration to think 
with intelligence and courage of three of 
our national problems in the hope that 
we may know how God and the founders 
of the republic would have us act. 

We meet at a happy yet critical hour. Al- 
though our first president definitely proph- 
esied the future greatness and prosperity 
of his country, we know that there is re- 



vealed today a power and wealth of which 
no man could have dreamed. These will be 
our chief perils unless the moral qualities 
which Washington declared essential 
shall become the fixed ideals, the firm 
principles of the American people. Once 
he said, "Observe good faith and justice 
towards all nations. Cultivate peace and 
harmony with all. Keligion and morality 
enjoin this conduct, and can it be that 
good policy does not equally enjoin it? It 
will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, 
at no distant period, a great nation to give 
to mankind the magnanimous and too 
novel example of a people always guided 
by an exalted justice and benevolence." 

Washington's hope is not yet fulfilled; 
we are not always guided by an exalted 
justice and benevolence ; but in one recent 
event we may permit ourselves some small 
measure of grateful pride. If it be sug- 
gested that the Conference for Limitation 
of Armament will redound to the eternal 
glory of America, as our distinguished vis- 
itors have generously declared, let us hope 
and strive that it may be so. But let us do a 
little clear thinking about the conference. 
And first of all let us realize that the na- 
tions were wise only in the wisdom of 
tragic experience. Had such a conference 
with such a result been possible before 
the war we know that it could be ex- 
plained only by the influence of the more 



exalted virtues. Coming after the war it is 
dictated by prudence, common-sense, self- 
preservation. Today, one needs not to be a 
prophet nor a son of a prophet to see that 
unrestricted competition in armament 
leads nations to moral and financial ruin. 

On the other hand we need not for 
modesty's sake attempt to diminish Amer- 
ica's share in the success of that moment- 
ous conference. It met in a unique spiri- 
tual atmosphere. On the day before the 
opening session there went out from Ar- 
lington a call to prayer that gathered the 
nation in tears of pride and gratitude 
around the grave of an unknown soldier, 
then lifted us all into the presence of 
God with vows of loyalty and service up- 
on our lips. It was one of the great mo- 
ments in the history of the American 
people. 

While the country was yet in the 
exaltation of this new experience, another 
great moment arrived. Let it be said, if 
you please, that only rich and powerful 
America could with dignity have invited 
such a conference; that the head of our 
republic welcomed the representatives of 
the powers in a manner worthy of him 
who on the day before had grown in moral 
stature as he led the people in prayer ; and 
then add that the chairman of the con- 
ference made a proposal that for faith 



and courage, for knowledge, wisdom and 
power will engrave his name on the tab- 
lets of imperishable fame, and the docu- 
ment itself will become one of the char- 
ters of civilization's new freedom. 

Yes, this is taking much for granted. It 
is an expression of faith in the unselfish 
patriotism and humanity of men who sit 
in the seats of power and some of whom 
might be able to give good reasons for 
hesitation, or skepticism, or disapproval, 
but to whom this country and a war-weary 
world will not look in vain for an exalted 
attitude toward proposals which promise 
even a small measure of relief. It is an 
attempt to keep a part of our pledge to 
the men who died to end war ; it is a cup 
of cool water placed at the parched lips 
of despairing humanity. I refuse to be- 
lieve that any man will try to dash that 
cup from their lips. I must believe that 
American statesmanship will now rise to 
its highest level with a unanimity which 
will condemn partisan criticism and pre- 
vent partisan advantage. The treaties are 
not panaceas ; but they will help. Much re- 
mains to be done ; but after this step in the 
right direction we can "thank God and 
take courage." 

If our country is to exhibit toward its 
citizens and to others that "exalted jus- 



tice and benevolence" for which Washing- 
ton hoped, then must we deal intelligently 
and bravely with two other problems 
which confront us at this moment. You 
will agree that they concern our nation- 
al honor and welfare, that they are the 
most conspicuous examples of the need 
of moral courage, and therefore are not 
inappropriate topics for this day. 

It is almost impossible, however, to men- 
tion such a subject as the tariff without 
being suspected of partisan bias, and with- 
out the accusation of being one of those 
persons who rush in where better beings 
fear to tread. But is it unnecessary to re- 
mark that the problem of the tariff today 
is utterly different from that problem of 
twenty-five years ago? Is there no danger 
that a matter so vital to this country may 
be considered and settled as though the 
world war had not happened? As though 
the economic conditions of the world had 
not entirely changed since 1914? Indeed, 
the changed condition is the most essen- 
tial fact in dealing with this complex 
problem. 

Already our unemployment situation 
makes us anxious. Do we wish to encour- 
age agriculture? Do we wish to encourage 
our factories and mills? If so, we desire 
foreign markets, which can only be found 
where we are willing to exchange prod- 
ucts. Most of the world is practically 



bankrupt, and unless we can find some 
way to improve the financial health of the 
nations, our own health will fail. These 

are, of course, the most obvious facts ; and 
unfortunately they are exactly the kind 
of facts which are frequently disregarded. 
This hour makes a supreme demand upon 
intelligence and unselfish statesmanship. 
The tariff has generally been dealt with 
as a local issue, but the country is calling 
for leaders who can deal with it as a na- 
tional issue; leaders who can see it na- 
tionally and will so interpret it to their 
constituents. The American people are 
not utterly selfish; they do believe in the 
greatest good for the greatest number; 
and they are intelligent enough to under- 
stand that any temporary personal sacri- 
fice which promotes the general welfare 
will soon reward them with increased 
prosperity. Let us have faith in our people 
and the courage to tell them the truth. 

We are invoking the name of Washing- 
ton today, whom Gladstone called, "the 
purest figure in history," and whose out- 
standing quality was moral courage. Be- 
side him stands Lincoln radiant with 
moral courage. And next, because of that 
same quality, I see Cleveland, reforming 
the civil service and declaring to disap- 
pointed partisans that "public office is a 
public trust ;" and who because he encour- 



aged the business of the country suffered 
the cheap and inane criticism of being al- 
lied with Wall Street ; but when he upheld 
the dignity of the country in his Venezuela 
message Wall Street lost some money and 
repudiated him. Finally the whole country 
came to understand and to honor him for 
intelligent statesmanship and moral 
courage. 

America and the world have been 
poorer and lonelier since the voice of Theo- 
dore Eoosevelt was stilled. He was not 
loved and admired the less because he was 
not always right. He was a man of definite 
convictions and the courage of them. He 
was no moral neutral ; he did not keep you 
waiting very long for an opinion on mat- 
ters of moment ; and he did not keep you 
waiting long for results. A sincerity which 
cut through all shams, and a justice which 
made him the supreme advocate of "the 
square deal" are qualities desperately 
needed in these days. They will not be 
lacking if our leaders will listen today to 
the noble appeal of those who in their 
time scorned timid compromise, and 
whose moral courage makes their fame 
secure. 

One subject more deserves our best 
thought for a few moments. To enable our 
country to take her rightful place on the 
field of honor in France, we drafted four 

10 



millions of the best young manhood of tlie 
republic. This was just and wise. But we 
did not draft capital and labor, and it will 
scarcely be denied that there was some 
profiteering in both of these camps. When 
our men had played their brave and vic- 
torious part, even before their return a 
grateful country began to plan for some 
appropriate and generous recognition. 
Papers and magazines were filled with 
projects for rewarding the nation's 
heroes; one of these suggestions offered 
by an able cabinet member proposed some 
large reclamation undertakings to give 
employment, the lands to be assigned later 
to service-men who might even be helped 
by the Government to build their homes 
and develop the country. 

The men returned, in many cases to find 
their former places filled. While they were 
hunting for work they witnessed an orgy 
of extravagance in the life around them. 
They had many disappointing, irritating 
experiences. With increasing insistance 
they demanded what has come to be called 
a "bonus." They have listened to speeches 
by good politicians and bad, by patriots 
and demagogues. As they do not know who 
can be believed, they have maintained 
their demands. Take them all in all, they 
are as just and intelligent as they are 
brave, and they are not excelled in these 
qualities by any similar body of men in 



11 



the world. Why do we not tell them the 
truth; why not show respect for their 
heads and their hearts, by declaring that 
what they ask is individually so small that 
it would disappear like a mist before the 
morning sun, jet in its aggregate certain 
to threaten the welfare of the nation. Tell 
them we shall insist that the government 
shall give adequate attention to the dis- 
abled, sick or unemployed ex-service men, 
at whatever cost; but that we can with 
safety for the country do no more at pres- 
ent for those whose need is not urgent. 

The men who offered their lives for us 
deserve a better fate than to be bribed, 
cajoled and exploited for political pur- 
poses. The men who almost starved in 
front line trenches when food could not 
reach them and yet had the courage to go 
over the top, driving back a powerful foe, 
and ingeniously exercising initiative 
which disturbed and broke the enemy's 
morale, these men may be trusted for in- 
telligence and patriotism. All thoughtful 
people know that a substantial bonus can- 
not be provided at present by taxation 
without a peril to the country's very mod- 
erate prosperity. They know that such 
taxation will increase unemploAonent and 
bring wide-spread suffering. The resulting 
criticism would be shifted by politicians 
if possible to the shoulders of the service 
men. No one who respects them wishes to 

12 



contemplate the loss of any of the honor 
which should be theirs forever. 

Similar difficulties beset the proposal 
to meet the situation with a bond issue. 
Let us tell these men the whole truth of 
the way in which the payment of a bonus 
at present will affect the welfare of this 
country ; the slowly returning prosperity ; 
the new enterprises waiting a good chance 
to start ; the old enterprises waiting a fav- 
orable opportunity to begin again. 

Let trustworthy people make this plain 
to them and you will find them answering 
with a generous loyalty, a complete co- 
operation which will amaze the moral 
skeptics. Washington himself would tell 
us that he never led finer men than these, 
and I think he would appeal to us to tell 
them the truth and trust them. Meanwhile 
the rest of the people are not deceived and 
they will know how to deal with leaders 
who lack patriotism and sincerity. 

All this I have ventured to say to mem- 
bers of a great patriotic society because 
the most royal blood the republic pos- 
sesses fiows in your veins. Yours is the 
sacred task of guarding the fire of pure 
ideals in the great temple, the nation's 
capitol. You live where Washington lived 
and led; where halls seem still to echo 
with the lofty appeals of true statesmen 
who knew how to kindle the nation's soul ; 

13 



you walk where every foot of ground has 
been hallowed. Your comrades may envy 
even while they congratulate you. But 
they understand and sympathize with you 
in your responsibility. Of all patriots you 
are nearest to that inner citadel which 
guards the honor and happiness of the 
nation. The wisdom of the divine Leader 
has placed you where a contest between 
materialism and morality must be fought 
out just as it was in northern France. You 
will not avoid the honor or responsibility 
if I suggest that it is to you particularly 
at this hour that your comrades who fell 
over there hand on the flaming torch of 
high ideals. 

Once in the summer of 1918 a ten-inch 
gun was jammed at a moment when such 
a happening was serious. Around the gun- 
crew gas-shells were falling. It was diffi- 
cult to see clearly through the masks, and, 
the first efforts to get the gun into action 
failing, the two men nearest, waiting for 
no command, threw off their masks and 
worked feverishly until they fell overcome 
by the gas; then the next two removed 
their masks and toiled until they also fell ; 
then the next two followed, completed the 
work, and put the gun in action. The men 
who were nearest gave themselves utterly. 
Your brethren from all over the land sa- 
lute you who are nearest and know that 
you will be vigilant and faithful. 



14 



There is no cause for discouragement. 
A brighter day is dawning. Those who are 
conscious of the overtones of history can 
hear the turning of a new page. What 
shall we write upon that page? Let the 
answer be given to God, to the heroes of 
the past, to the hopeful, waiting soul of 
America. Surely faith burns brightly to- 
day; let it flame with courage! 



WS4 



% 



Committee on tfje Ci^urc]^ ^ertjice 



Dr. Marcus Benjamin, 
Chairjtian 

Dr. Ralph Jenkins 

Mr. Thomas W. Lockwood, Jr. 

Mr. Reginald B. Looker 

Mr. Albion K. Parris 

Captain Lee W. Wright, U. S. M. C. 

Secretary 

And Ex-Officio 

Brigadier-General George Richards, U. S. M. C. 

President, and 

Reverend Canon William Tayloe Snyder 

Chaplain of the Sons of the Revolution 

in the District of Columbia 



at^le Committee 

Major Selden B. Armat, U. S. A. Mr. Hampson Gary 

Mr. Robert Root Bennett Mr. Samuel Herrick 

LiEUT.-CoM. Joel T. Boone, U.S.N. Mr. Richard W. Hynson 

Mr. Henry B. Byrd, Jr. Mr. Royall O. Kloeber 

Mr. William R. Chapline, Jr. Major Russell B. Putnam 



The music, rendered by the Choir of Epiphany Church, 
was under the direction of Mr. Adolf Torovsky, Choir- 
master and Organist. 








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